[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6245926,"mediaKeyId","3221003-e6f641fb018853d78488a6adac4b9a86","parentId",3221003,"title","Committee hears reentry gaps: detainees sometimes leave arrest without IDs, counseling or community supports","audioSeconds",311,"startMs",4695965,"endMs",5007585,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3221003-e6f641fb018853d78488a6adac4b9a86&start=4695&end=5007","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3221003-e6f641fb018853d78488a6adac4b9a86/thumbnail_4695965.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6245926/Vermont/Committee-hears-reentry-gaps-detainees-sometimes-leave-arrest-without-IDs-counseling-or-community-supports","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245926-9c6848fe7abc1cd41ef713a57898d54f/orig.mp4?Expires=1776051126&Signature=m8tqA3XJ66qP0ZFHVpKYhSZjhPtcGItx6-ERigT5E-XUsC7GsFJn8AIEPx1WAmCRw-BQ-v05oECeGEyBUKmKB0tCTamJEtjZ4cloJUDTjEVt~QtFB~ao5ffQOkVk0C40nJJCjI6F15cW3hgHmQnnr-S4ZQgBaCAnChLM2PGGbeO9oBFM6E0rGmkwy0h5RDaqbub1cU2TrquNyG1X49rf9CbCPjTdTxI-xY5k4yhTCn5bt3tOeI~qAWWDCAHPnjM4wzis1xWG2GmzrjzXk3ZpOGZBZZsSl34T-1V2RBOEsXsDPsRMSavzTQ17tRojo9iBa6BeykiChFB2aH1iGICF8g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-05-08T03:16:15Z","article","House Corrections and Institutions Committee members raised reentry concerns on May 7 after a simulation and facility visit highlighted cases in which people leave custody without identification, documentation or coordinated community supports.

Committee members described the simulation as a demonstration of recurring gaps: people released from short stays or detainee status may not have birth certificates, Social Security cards or state IDs at the point of release. DOC staff said they have an MOU with the Department of Motor Vehicles to provide non-driver IDs for people who are sentenced and in the system long enough for processing, but detainees — who may be given a judge-ordered immediate release — present operational challenges because the department cannot reliably predict release timing.

DOC staff reviewed reentry efforts under way: standing up reentry caseworkers in facilities, collaboration with reentry probation officers in the field, and partnerships with community providers. DOC and committee members flagged the absence of a statewide reentry coalition or coordinated network that would bring community organizations, designated mental-health agencies, employment and housing partners together to provide a seamless set of post-release services.

On counseling and treatment, DOC said licensed mental-health clinicians and programmatic counseling are available for many people in custody, with certain evidence-based programs (for example, opioid-use disorder treatment and offender-treatment programming) provided to eligible participants. DOC staff said not everyone engages with counseling, and service intensity varies by custody type and sentence. Committee members emphasized that therapeutic and wraparound services, stable housing and employment are key predictors of successful reentry.

Committee members suggested the state consider more coordinated reentry partnerships, earlier intake work on identification and required documentation, and cost estimates for ensuring detainees receive basic IDs prior to release. DOC and the committee agreed to explore further testimony from law enforcement on property handling at arrest and from community partners about a coordinated reentry network.

Next steps: DOC will continue to brief the committee on reentry caseworker rollouts and the MOU with DMV, and the committee requested additional testimony from law enforcement and community reentry partners.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HCI-2025-05-07-9:20 AM","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members and DOC staff discussed reentry challenges after a simulated release exercise: detainees and short-term detainees can leave custody without IDs or needed documents, complicating reentry. DOC described an MOU with DMV for non-driver IDs for sentenced people and said detainees remain a harder population to process.","taxTitle","Corrections & Institutions, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Committees, Legislative , Vermont","taxId",30574,"location","Vermont","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6245930,"Committee asks DOC for commissary receipts and use of rec-fund commissions",689,3386520,4075815,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3221003-e6f641fb018853d78488a6adac4b9a86&start=3386&end=4075","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3221003-e6f641fb018853d78488a6adac4b9a86/thumbnail_3386520.jpg","/articles/6245930/Vermont/Committee-asks-DOC-for-commissary-receipts-and-use-of-rec-fund-commissions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245930-93c1aa268333fd61651cd5a3780a1d21/orig.mp4?Expires=1776051126&Signature=b-t8N~kr5rW0PdihC60yxgSLJdqCtFIDzO4KbrWaeSjC6Uu-BTqOb6dUoDUfEyAksv4WAhPVT8DVDbh-ZrTzvTjo0fNo072AFG2p~GlnseBNtk5eT6oioHalD8eeQCbNKAB4eF5mBq0wN~iun6cI4gL26Vo94N66x9A7k767986N3RXH1o8TmSYAjf5Xvq5m8Bo5so5vVzW6Rv8etJF418~PpG2pUhG~Kmtjdz8GRhJQIR82v7N~InPOQCprezhMFctDWpdW8R1d1DkoKqmDSjy5ctYWM5yBUM40R6x02FAnlpp51~oEf7l3wB6nLcGETOQjKoLqDYYuX7RVd3tfSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Corrections and Institutions Committee pressed Department of Corrections officials on May 7 for details about commissary contracts, commission rates and how that revenue is spent in facility recreation funds.

Committee members said testimony from outside witnesses last week suggested commissary vendors provide substantial revenue to facilities; the committee asked DOC to clarify the size and use of those funds and whether the current arrangements create a conflict of interest or pricing premium for people in custody.

DOC staff provided operational details: vendor commissions are remitted monthly and the commission rate was described as approximately 32% of gross sales. DOC said those commissions historically funded recreation coordinators and rec-yard programming, but because commissions and balances declined over time staffing costs were shifted to the department’s general fund and those salaries are no longer paid from commissary revenue. DOC said remaining rec-fund money pays for recreation items and programs—basketballs, tournaments, video-game systems, furniture and similar items—based on requests from facility rec committees.

On a question about scale, a DOC financial contact told committee staff there is about $120,000 in the combined rec funds across all facilities at present; DOC also flagged that the reported $1.1 million figure discussed earlier in the meeting represented staffing and general-fund figures rather than commissary balances. Committee members requested historical gross-receipt and commission data for the last two fiscal years and an accounting of how commissary-derived revenue was spent in the same period. DOC agreed to provide receipts and average annual commission figures and to break down per-facility totals.

Committee members discussed possible alternatives—state-run commissary, different procurement approaches and whether lower commissary prices should be prioritized over funding recreation. DOC staff cautioned that procurement rules (Bulletin 3.5 and state contracting processes) and current budget constraints limit rapid alternatives and said any change with fiscal impact should be coordinated early in the budget cycle.

Next steps: DOC will provide gross-sales and commission data by facility for recent fiscal years, a current rec-fund balance report and an itemized list of rec-fund expenditures.","Lawmakers questioned Department of Corrections staff about commissary contracts, a reported 32% commission rate, and how commissary commissions flow to recreation funds. DOC said staff salaries once paid from the rec fund are now covered by the general fund and agreed to provide multi-year receipts and gross-commission data.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6245935,"DOC tells committee falsified legal mail and soaked papers are driving contraband problems",277,2522475,2799970,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3221003-e6f641fb018853d78488a6adac4b9a86&start=2522&end=2799","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3221003-e6f641fb018853d78488a6adac4b9a86/thumbnail_2522475.jpg","/articles/6245935/Vermont/DOC-tells-committee-falsified-legal-mail-and-soaked-papers-are-driving-contraband-problems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245935-c5ea639857c79a0fe3825b2ee02c3601/orig.mp4?Expires=1776051126&Signature=gPwAHgCPE7BU1yPPu0QgJjmmAAWAyzS1ZZ1FSQ~qww6XgLiwIYovmt3bz3NrUON9UY8wmPulWECJg3pcfIk-bKK14jvNnbPWS-k1AegSCdsz33aX7x4-DgFzC4TQa8didGGQMQvgmcy~Ncw2M-i6QeKM~nu7yG9H7fO1Jyc-k4O5ONyrkc~f5npZFW-~AJ3TE6ndSpU-u0S5JoxAlEvEkQ4TcdIXEmc1bniQ48QBtUnZwFUC0jom7eSfVKyizMxLAtV3B7c4dXX0LpC3ds8upmlIjX02gE2M8BxnAUaYK1vbGrJkH2vXrLgoH0TVPWUBxQ6P1aNLnyivwurrYqaNJw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Department of Corrections staff told the House Corrections and Institutions Committee on May 7 that the department is seeing a rise in falsified legal mail and paper soaked with drugs or insecticide used to introduce contraband into facilities.

Al Cormier, chief of operations, described the intake and mail process and recent trends. “Letters that do come in are are opened in front of the individual just to ensure that there's nothing for contraband in there,” Cormier said. He explained that staff inspect incoming mail for hidden substances and that DOC photocopies coloring books and pictures before delivering them to people in custody because inks and coatings can conceal drugs.

Cormier said staff are seeing more counterfeit legal envelopes designed to appear as attorney or advocacy mail; those envelopes sometimes contain synthetic cannabinoids (K2), other newer synthetic drugs and items sprayed with wasp spray. “We're seeing a lot of, recently where legal mail is is being falsified…They come in soaked in k 2, spice…Wasp spray is the biggest 1 now,” he said.

Because legal mail is privileged, DOC said it faces operational limits: privileged mail must be treated differently, and staff cannot read attorney correspondence but must still guard against contraband. Cormier described a new investigative unit and collaboration with the fusion center and the defender general’s office to track falsified legal mail. DOC is evaluating a technology demonstration next week for scanning mail and detecting tampering.

DOC said typical incoming-mail operations include providing each individual seven free stamps per week, opening and inspecting incoming mail in front of recipients, and photocopying photos and children’s drawings to reduce ingestion risk. Stolen or hidden cash found in mail is inventoried and placed in the individual's trust account; the department described a process to scan or otherwise inspect suspicious mail.

Committee members asked whether senders or receivers face consequences. DOC staff said proving the sender’s intent is difficult when envelopes are counterfeit and names can be falsified; holding a recipient accountable requires evidence they solicited contraband. The committee requested testimony about the department’s investigative unit and the planned mail-scanning demonstration to understand detection and enforcement options.

Next steps: DOC will schedule a demonstration of a mail-scanning technology for the committee and provide more information about the investigative unit and recent mail-related incidents.","Department of Corrections staff told the House Corrections and Institutions Committee that falsified legal mail and paper soaked with synthetic drugs or insecticide are increasingly being used to introduce contraband. DOC described screening, photocopying and plans to demo mail-scanning technology.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6245939,"House corrections panel presses DOC on phone, tablet access and call costs",1138,160,1138760,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3221003-e6f641fb018853d78488a6adac4b9a86&start=0&end=1138","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3221003-e6f641fb018853d78488a6adac4b9a86/thumbnail_160.jpg","/articles/6245939/Vermont/House-corrections-panel-presses-DOC-on-phone-tablet-access-and-call-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6245939-8864fc4705f72cb78c3d98fbba0ce83e/orig.mp4?Expires=1776051126&Signature=UjabprovdWIt9tYf5p35P9HupC6o3NZhWYfTvWQaS7btpc3ddjy18AtFWmrwg~UMjMOh1cBWf7BGugzBra~gzQ24cehKSEV-JBqzRikMZs~qnJZidSRVCSQ7zzPFw5V1ydB7To8cNpg2NkgZH3catdp3icIlQ4Y76e5bcvkb7ghetKtt7OPSmHvqKTfX5yxNJZ1sJynqdHyaVZud1oOWxOc1uiwp67Vwy9kxC8d3gzUaj0rWNpLpWCpt8BfuMupvsSssxS54vZdMaIQtAEds5D~FPQ-BbQtEfupuLEGcd5ZhdMLB9j8zUScJx5R70tL3Dzsjg-YZjM9htG1vn2Tl0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Corrections and Institutions Committee on May 7 examined Department of Corrections practices and the provisions of H.294 related to telephone and tablet access for people in custody, focusing on who pays for calls and what communications are monitored.

Committee members said the questions grew out of last week’s review of bill H.294 and a request for DOC to clarify operational details. The committee sought specifics on whether tablets are issued to every person, how approved call lists are cleared, whether attorney calls are charged, and which calls are recorded.

Al Cormier, chief of operations with the Department of Corrections, told the committee, “All the incarcerated population has access to to telecommunications. There are phones mounted both on the walls in the living units, and they have the access to the tablet for video calls as well.” He said tablets are issued to individuals who request them and that “there's no limit on how much or how much time somebody can spend…it's really about what they can afford.”

Cormier described the tablet environment as a closed, vendor-controlled system: “They don't have free access to the Internet. They don't have—they can't go everywhere that we can go on the Internet…it's an all encompassing web based system that the vendor provides.” He said content is whitelisted by the vendor and that nothing resembling an open web browser (for example, Facebook or direct e-commerce) is available on the tablets.

On free-call policy and pricing, committee members and DOC staff gave these operational points and rates: DOC provides two free telephone calls per person per week; free video visits are 20 minutes; regular phone calls were reported as 6¢ per minute; video visitation as 16¢ per minute; and email/text/photo messages at 25¢ each. Cormier said attorney calls are treated as confidential and are not recorded: “Your attorney calls are all confidential.” He added that all other calls “are recorded and then monitored as needed.” Incoming calls are not accepted on tablets or wall phones; communication from family in emergencies is routed through facility staff.

Committee members pressed for usage and revenue data. Cormier said DOC could produce call-volume and revenue breakdowns and noted an internal figure: “you know, you're averaging about 12,500 calls per facility per month.” Committee members asked DOC to separate revenue from calls versus revenue from app, music, or video purchases on tablets and to provide per-inmate averages and comparisons with Massachusetts, which was cited as a jurisdiction that changed its contracting model.

Members also discussed vendor contracting and commissions. Cormier said the department currently receives no commissions on phone calls because of an FCC ruling; commissions historically came from commissary sales rather than telecommunication services. Committee members flagged policy choices in H.294—some said they supported free phone calls but were not inclined to subsidize movie/music/app usage.

The committee requested follow-up materials from DOC, including detailed call and tablet revenue reports, counts of incarcerated people with trust accounts and tablets, the average per-inmate telecom spend, and comparisons with Massachusetts’ model. DOC staff agreed to provide the data and to look into vendor revenue splits and commission figures.

Next steps: committee staff will collect the requested usage and financial data from DOC and the tablet vendor to inform further review of H.294 and any policy changes concerning vendor-provided tablet services and free-call provisions.","The House Corrections and Institutions Committee questioned Department of Corrections staff about phone and tablet access, monitoring, vendor pricing and a proposal in H.294 to expand free calls. DOC staff described a vendor-provided, closed tablet system, two free weekly calls, standard rates for paid services and said attorney calls are not录ed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears reentry gaps: detainees sometimes leave arrest without IDs, counseling or community supports

Committee asks DOC for commissary receipts and use of rec-fund commissions

DOC tells committee falsified legal mail and soaked papers are driving contraband problems

House corrections panel presses DOC on phone, tablet access and call costs